Frame and supporting structure for grain elevating machines and the like



July 22, 1952 L. B. NEIGHBOUR ET AL FRAME AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FORGRAIN ELEVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 File l Nov. 19,1948 INENTORS L B. NEIGHBOUR 0. R LANGE ATTORNE Y5 L. B. NEIGHBOUR ETAL2,604,203 FRAME AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR GRAIN Jul 22, 1952ELEVATING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1948 I NVEN TORS L. B. NE IGHBOU/i Patented July 22, 1952 FRAME AND SUPPORTINGSTRUCTURE non GRAIN ELEvATING MACHINES AND THE Leonard B. Neighbour,Moline, Ill., and Orville P; Lance, Davenport, Iowa, assignors to Deere-& Company, Moline, 111., a corporatlonof Illinois Application November19, 1948, Serial No. 60,902-

This invention ."relates to a material-handling device or apparatus oftheportable. type used on farms, for example, for the "elevating. ofgrain and similar material. More particularly, the invention relates toimproved frame and. supporting structure for carrying the inclinedelevating element of the machine.

A typical elevator at the. type referred to ordinarily comprises awheeled truck which provides. a base for an elongated elevator andineludes means for elevating or. depressing the elevator for varying theinclination of the. elevator with respect to the horizontal. It. is. animportant object of the present invention to improve the supportingstructure so that the. elevator has proper ,stabilityand balanceregardless. of its angle of inchnatiom. Another important object is toprovide supporting or frame structure which is adjustable to accommodateelevators of difierent lengths. The" usual elevator supporting structureincludes frame elements providing .a. transverse axle, a. derrick forfraising the" elevator and a reach connected between the. axle. and thereceiving end portion of the elevator, together with mechanism forelevating the derrick to raise the elevator and for lowering the derrickto lower the elevator. It is'usual insuch construction to provide avertical structurecommonly called a mast and to include in the raisingand lowering 17 Claims. (Cl. 198 -233) arable .for elongation when, theelevator assumes a position at or: beyond a predetermined angle, therebyrelie'vi'ngthe maststructure of either column or tension'loading andfurther lightening the. cable loads.

A further-andimportant object of the invention is to provide arelationship between. the derrick, the reach means, andithe axle meansso that lengthening or shorteningof the derrick and reach means will be.accompanied by lengthening and. shortening of the axle means. wherebythe tread of the wheel'sxon. the supporting truck will be varied. Inother words, the transverse spacing between: the wheels is increased asthe length of the derrick and reach means is increased in accordancewith the use of elevators of increased lengths;

Since balanceancl stability of the elevator are important, theconstruction contemplated by the present invention involves further thefeature of an adjustable connection between the reach means andtheelevator proper so that the weight at the receiving end of theelevator may be balancedwith respectto the weight at the .discharge endof the elevator. .Ordinarily, the receiving end ofjthe elevatorxis tooheavy, it is difficult tomanenver the elevator in setting the same upfor use. Further, increased weight at vator so that bales or the; likewill have anunobstructed passage up theelevator.

The relation of the winding mechanism to the derrick by means of thecable is ordinarily such that substantial columnloads are imposedv onthe mast, at least during initial raising of the elevator. Inconstructions heretofore known, the column loading of the masts wasrelieved after the elevator assumed a predetermined angle; however, themasts were then placed in tension and the usual result was'i-ncreasedcable loading. A" feature of the present-. invention is a mast structurecomprising a ,pair oirelatively sep- 1 arable sections which-are relatedin suchmanner as to assume column loading but are septhe receiving endof the elevator imposes an ad'- ditional and undesirable load on atractor or other vehicle used for. transporting the. elevator. Ingeneral, the invention has for its. principal object the. provisionofanjelevator having increased stability. and ,balance, portability} andfeatures contributing; toward. the easy assembly and disassemblythereof; Further important objectsand desirable features inherent in.and encompassed. by the invention willlbecome apparent ,tothose versedin the art; as'apreferreditorm of the invention is fully disclosed inthe following specification and accompanying, sheets of drawings, inwhich Figure l is a side elevationalview of the elevator, shownintransport position and connected toatractom. Figure 2.. is a side'elevational view of the ele-- vatorset uptor operation; v p

Figure 3 is a detailed vievv,.on a slightly -en.-' larged scale, of theaxleandmaststructures;

Figure A is afragmentary viewon. a slightly enlargedscale,.-showing..the connection of the reach means...to the. elevator:proper;

Figure 551s a fragmentary:- ieW., partly-i-n sec- Figure '7 is aplan'view similar'to' that appearing in Figure 6 but illustrating thecomponents in.

shortened relative positions, and

Figure 3 is a perspective-.exploded..view. show.-.

in the interconnection between a portion of the mast and a transverseremovable member.

In general design, the elevatorillustrated here-,

in follows conventional construction,- inso far a its appearance isconcerned; ;It will be ap-- preciated, of course, that the variousdetails illustrated and about to be described may be modified accordingto individual desires, without depart- '1',

ing from the spirit andvscope of the invention. The elevator comprisingthe. material handling; device. chosenifor thepur'poses of illustra-.'tion an description may be. said to include, generally andflbrie'fly,'a base" orfsuppo'rt'ing. structure 19 on which is 'carriedan'elevatorelement H. The elevator is carriedon the base element 19 byfm'eansproviding 'ffor. elevation or depression ofthegelevator'through variousangles of inclination to the horizontal. The lower or forward endof theelevator. comprises a receiving or boot end; l2, shown here. asjhavingassociated therewith'a wagon-unloading hopper 13. The opposite' orrearfupper e'ndofthe elevator element comprises afdischarge end portion I4,with which is ordinarily associated a discharge hopper 'or chute, notshown here since it forms no part of the present invention andrepresentative types of, s.uch are familiar to those'versed-in the art.The'bfoote'nd'of theitelevatorimay have a spitable hitch I5 by means ofwhich the elevator may be connected 'to-a tractor-I6 for transportationthereof. I V I The frame st'ructureor base element Hlcomprises atransverse member providing axle means jlfhereshown as being tubular andof substantial-ext'ent in a direction transverse'to the length of-theelongated elevator-element The axle means-includes a 'plurauty ofelements or members, the .cientralone of which is comprised by thememberIT and two outerones of which are each"'in"the forni'of a short axlemember or spindle. l8.v Each spindle hasjournaled thereon a .whefel"|,9,1which-. provides means for carrying the. framegoribas'ej element [0'on the ground.

} Each spindle 18 is telescopically receivediby the proximate end of thetubular'axle means I1, and the latter has a plurality of axiallyfspace'daper tures' 20. 'for selectively receiving a securing means inthe formof a bolt jor. pini2l'. The spindles are provided respectively withapertures or bores for selective alignment'with any of the apertures oropenings in the axle means I 1, whereby the transverse spacing between,or tread of,-.the wheels. l9 may be varied or adjusted. The relationshipof the components 20 and 2| are the apertures in the. spindles |8Iis.such as to provide disconnectible or releasable securing means forsecuring the spindles IS in selected positions of adjustment.

.TheaXIe means I1 .is provided intermediate the wheels |9 with uprightsupporting or mast structure designated generally by'the numeral 22. Themast comprises a. pair of upright, later ally spaced apart side elements23, each of which includes a lowersectio'n-"Mand an upper-section 25.'The tlowersectibhs"are preferably tubular and receive the uppersections 25 telescopically therein. Each lower section has a pluralityof openings or apertures 26, any one of which may receive a securingmeans in the form of a pin or bolt 21. The construction is such .(Figure5) .that the lower end of an upper section 25 rests on or is sustainedby the pin'21. 'For purposes that will be hereinafter explained, thenumber of apertures 26 in each of the lower sections24 is equal to thenumber of apertures in each end porspect to the lower section. In otherwords, the

pin- 21 provides a limit or abutment means. Therefore, the mastisfcapable of column loading but cannot ,be placed in tension, inasmuchas the'upper sections may pull out of the lower sections. The importanceof this'feature will appear below.'

The axle means is connectedtothe receiving end portion |2 of theelevator element H by reach means designated generally by the numeral28. As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the reach means comprises a pairof relatively'adjustable sections,one being a forward section 29 and theother a rearward section'30. The forward section includes a pair offorwardly converging, tu-

bular side members 3| rigidly cross connected adjacent their rear endsby a transverse member 32, The rear section 39 comprises a pair offorwardly converging side members 33, which are respectivelytelescopically received by the tubular members 3|. The rear. endportions of the 'side members 33..are pivotally connected to the axlesat 34. The forward ends of the side members 3| of the front reachsection 29 carry a transverse shaft 35 which has at each of its outerends a sheave 35. The transverse shaft 35 provides-means for pivotallyconnecting the forward end of the front reach section 29 to a pair oftransversely spaced brackets 31 (only one of which appears in Figures 1,2 and 4) by means of which the reach is connected to the forward or bootend portion |2 of the elevator element II. This por-. tion'oftheelevator element has at each side a pluralityof openings 38 spacedlengthwise of the elevator and selectively adapted to receive securingmeans inthe formof bolts 39 for securing the brackets 37 to the elevatorinselected positions of longitudinal"adjustment; This featurecontributes to the means for selectively balancing the elevatoraccording to the length thereof or the height at which the same isoperated. The front and rear reach sections-29 and 30 are relativelyextensible or contractible so that the over-all length of the reach maybe increased or shortened. For this purpose, each of the members 3| ofthe front reachsection has a plurality of longitudinally spacedapertures 49, here shown asb'eingnine in number'to correspond with thenine openings 20 and 23 in thefaxle and mast components respectively.The forward end of each member 33 of the rear r'each section 30 has anaperture to receive securing means in the form of-a 'bolt' or pin 4|which may be selectively passed'through any of the apertures 40.

Inasmuch as the' angle of convergence of the members 3| is fixed by therigid cross connection thereof by the transverse member 32, the angle ofconvergence of the members 33 will likewise be fixed. The-entire reachstructure is in the form of a triangular/construction having a truncatedapex. Accordingly, when themembers 33 are adjusted inwardly or outwardlywith respect to the members 3|, the transverse spacing between the rearends 34 of the members33 will vary. It is for this reason thatthecadjustability has been providedin the axle means at Zfl-Zl. In otherwords, when it isdesired to vary the length of the reach 28,, the boltor pin'ZI must be removed from the axlemeans ll--l8. As the reach isshortened, the end portions 34 move in-. wardly, thus narrowing thetread of the wheels l9. Conversely, if the reach is lengthened, the endportions 34 move laterally. farther apart, thus increasing the tread ofthe wheels l9.

The connection of the bolts 4| respectively between the members 3! and33 is such asto interconnect the members for both tension and com-.pression loading. It will be noted, from thedescription that follows,that the reach 28 is placed in compression when the elevator element His raised or lowered.

A further component of the frame or base element Hi comprises a derrickindicated generally by the reference numeral 42. As best shown inFigures 6 and 7, the derrick includes a loweror forward section 43 and arear or upper section .44. The rear section comprises a pair oftubular'side members 45 that converge rearwardly and that are rigidlycross-connected by a pair of transverse members 46. The rear endportions of the members 45 carry-a transverseshaftfil atv each of theouter ends-of which is a roller or track guide 48. As best shown inFigures 1 and 2, these rollers engage the under portionof 'the elevatorelement l l and sustain. the latter on the derrick 42. The-front derricksection 43 comprises apair of rearwardly converging members 49 which arepivotally connected at 50 to the spindles l8 of the axle means IL Themembers 49am respectively telescopically received by the tubularmembers'45 and the latter have a plurality of longitu: dinally spacedapertures or openings A-il g, each set of openings being nine in numberto, cor-respond with the sets of openings-previously described inconnection with the axle, mast, and reach; mem-. bers. The rear ends ofthe members49 are ap ittured for' the respective reception of securingmeansin the form of bolts. or pinsjtforinterconnecting the reachsections 43 and 4,4,inany selected position of relative. longitudinaladjust ment. I

The] derrick, like the reach, is of. triangular construction having a'truncated apex. Inasmuch asv the angle of convergence of the. sidemembers 415 is fixed by" the rigid cross connections. it, the angle ofconvergence of the members 4.9 is likewise fixed. Therefore, as themembers 49 telescope inwardly and outwardly with respect to the. members4'5,the transverse'spacing, between the end portions 50 willfvary-However, the adjustability of the axle? accommodates the variations inspacing between the portions 50, just as the adjustability of the'axleaccommodates the. variations in spacing of the end portions 34 of thesidemembers 33 of the rear reach section 3.0.

For the purposeof elevating and depressing.

operates a worm gear 54 on a transverse shaft 55} carried by the frontreach section 3| "and includ-- ingla pair of winding drums: 56.. -.Acable 51: at each side of; the structure constitutes extensible and.contractible means for moving the derrick 42' about its pivotalconnection 50 with the axle means- H-JS; Each cable is wound partly onthe proximate winding drum 56,. extends forwardly and-is trained aboutthe proximate, sheave Stat: the. forward end-of the reach 28 and thenextends rearwardly to the upper portion of the mast, at which point itis preferably secured at 5'3. Th'ecable extends rearwardly for connec--tion to the rear end portion of the derrick 42. The connection of thecable 51 to the rear end portion of the derrick may be made in anysuitable manner. In a preferred construction, the transverse shaft 41may be hollow and the cable may extend therethrough (Figures 6Iand 7) sothata single length of cable may be used for both sides of the machine.1

Another feature of "the invention isthe means forv sustaining the loadof theelevator on the mast 22 during transportation thereof. This meanspreferably comprises a transverse tubular supporting member 59 which isremovably supported between the lower mast sections 24 (Figures 3 and5). Each mast section 24 has secured thereto, preferably by welding, 2.lug 60 having an aperture 6! therein. The lug is preferably in the formof an ordinary'blanl; nut having an aperture. (Figure 8). Oppositeendportions of the transverse member 59, being hollow and somewhat largerthan the lugs, provide recesses for loosely receiving the lugs 60. Theseend portions are apertured for alignment respectively with the lugapertures BI, and the aligned apertures may receive securing means inthe form of pins cr bolts 62 for securing the transverse membar inplace. i The transverse member is disposed at a sufficient height'abovethe bottom portions of the mast sections 24 so that, after the pins 62are removed, the mastsections may be sprung laterallyapart to withdrawthe. lugs and release the transverse member. The member may then,

be'removed so that the elevator element -ll may be lowered completely tothe axle means [7. This construction is an important aid in assemblingor disassembling the elevator. For example, in the assembly, the truckor base section can be set up with the elevator element H resting on thetransverse axle means I! between the elements of the mast 22. Theremainder of the structure may then be assembled and the elevatorelement raised to a point. sufficient to allow installation of thetransverse member 59. In other words, if the member 59 were permanentlyconnected between the opposite elements of the mast, it wouldbenecessary to setup the elevator with the elevator. element at asubstantial angle, which would not be only difficult but hazardous.

The operation of the elevator and the importance of the frame orsupporting structure thereto may be best understood by first comparingFigures 1 and 2. In Figure 1, the elevator element is in its transportposition, preferably sustained by the transverse element or member 59between the mast elements. When it is desired to set up the elevator foroperation, the

boot end is disconnected from the tractor and is allowed to rest on theground, as shown in Figure 2. The winding'mechanism is operated to'swingthe derrick means forwardlyand upwardly, thus resulting in elevating theelevator element H. Inasmuch as the stop pins orbolts 21 limitdo'wnwardmovement of the upper mast sections 25, the mast is capable cit-takingcolumn loading'and incrasing'th'e leverage or mechanical advantage forinitially elevating the'elevator'element. This result will be obviousfrom an examination of Figure 1.1 In other words, the sheave 36,connecting' point 58, and connecting point provided by the transverseshaft 41, provide three connecting points respectively at the apices ofan imaginary triangle. As the cable 51 is tightened, the three pointsapproach a'straight line, so that when the position of Figure 2'isreached, the cable 51 is exerting a straight line pull between thepoints 36 and 41." i a It will be noted that in Figure l the upperportionof theupper mast section 25 is a substantial distance-above theupper level of the elevator element 1 I, whereas, in'Figure 2, the upperportion' of the mastis' below the upper level of the elevator. Theautomaticremoval of the upper portions of the mast elementsfrompositions in which they project upwardly beyond the upper level of theelevator eliminates-these portions as obstacles to the passage up theelevator of bulky objects, such as bales of'hay-or straw. Although suchresult (non-obstruction) is obtainable in some priorconstructionsthearrangement of the mast is such that the mast is placed in tension afterthe elevator passes a predetermined angle. In other words, three pointscomparable to 36, 58 and 4'! not only'approach a straight line but passto the other sid'eiof such straight line so that the imaginary triangleof which these three points are apices is inverted. 'Such result notonly places tension loading on the mast but undesirably increases cableloads. According to the present-invention, the telescopic relationshipof the upper portion of the mast to the lower portion provides that theupper portion may pull out of the lowcr'portion, being, of course, stillguided by the lower portion so that complete separation is impossible.'Hence, after the maximum angle has been passed, the cable will exert astraight pull between'the points 36 and 41, which is entirely in accordwith the ability of the lifting structure, since the initial mechanicaladvantage achieved-by the relationship of the parts shown in Figure 1 isno longer needed.

As previously stated, an important feature of the invention is theadjustability of the reach and derrick means whereby increase in lengthof these means automatically requires an increase in the transversespacing betweenthe wheels I9, all of which means that the framestructure has increasedstabi'lityas the length of the elevator isincreased. .In this respect, it will be understood that'the elevatorelement I l is made up of a plurality of detachable sections which maybe increased or decreased in number to vary the length of the elevator.Normally, the elevator will be increased in increments of two feet andprovision is made in thepresent case for the variation of length withinnine increments. Therefore, there are provided the sets of nine openingsat 20, 26, M! and 50. t

It will be found that the addition of sections to increase the length;of the elevator will ordinarily be made at the rear or discharge end.Consequently, the addition of sections will .tend to light GIIlQhG bOOtBIldQ Undesirable over-balance in this respectmaybe obviated by changingthe position' ofthe connection ofthe reach 28 to the forward portion" ofthe elevator by means of the adjustable securing means 3'l3839.

Increase in length of the reach means and derrick 'meansLaccOmpanied byincrease in the treadof the wheels .l9,' is not automatically fol- 8lowed by increase in leng-thof the'mast; how! ever, the length of themast should be increased in the same increments used in increasing thelength of the axle, reach, or derrick.

Another-important advantage of theconstruction provided by theadjustable reach, derrick, and axle is the use of tubular'members. Notonly are such members inherently stronger than the ordinary anglemembers used in prior constructions, but the fact that the axle isadjustable to accommodate adjustment in length in the reach and derrickmeans enables the rigid cross bracing of one sectionof each of the reachand derrick means, all'of which results in a frame'better able to resisttwisting strains." V V 7 Other features of the invention notspecifically enumerated or pointed out above will undoubtedly occur tothoseversed in the art, as will many modifications and alterations inthe preferred form of the invention illustrated and described, all ofwhich may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

'1. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like havingan elongated elevator, comprising: axle means disposed transversely asrespects the length of the elevator and including a pair 'of relativelyextensible and retractible parts for respectively carrying wheels sothat the tread of such wheels is adjustable according to relativeextension or retraction of said parts; a supporting frame extendinggenerally normal to the axle means and including a pair of elongatedframe elements having a pair of ends adjacent the axle means andconverging to a pair of ends remote from the axle means, each elementcomprising first and secondrelatively extensible and retractiblemembers; means connecting the first or axle-adjacent membersrespectively to the axle parts; means rigidly crossconnecting the secondmembers to maintain the angle of convergence of the second members;means guiding the first members on the second members to m'aintaintheangle of convergence of the first members; and releasable meansnormallyholding the laxle parts against extension or retraction butreleasable to provide for such extension orr'etra'ction to accommodatewheel tread variation as'the members of the frame elements are extendedor retracted. a j -2. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus orthe like having an elongated elevator, comprising: supporting meansdisposed transversely, as respects the'length of the elevator andincluding a pair, of relatively extensible and retractible parts forcarrying ground-engaging means respectively thereon so that the'spacingbetween suchground-engaging means is there'- fore adjustable accordingto relative extension or retraction of said parts; a supporting frame,extending generally normal to the supporting means and including a pairof elongated frame elements having a pair of ends adjacent thesupporting means, and another pair of ends remote from the supportingmeans, said elements converging from one pair of ends to the other, eachelement comprising first and second relatively extensible andretractible members; means connecting the first orsupporting-means-adjacent members respectively to the supporting meansparts;:means rigidly cross-connecting the second members to maintain theangle of convergence of the second members; means guiding the firstmembers on the second members to maintain the anglg qf qonlli enceof thefirst members; and

comprising: a tubular axle disposed itransversely' as, respects, thelength Qi'the eleva r; a Wh spindle tde oni ally carr ed y a h. nd. o t

axle tor ex ensi n or retracti n. xi ll of e:

axle. so that thetread. ofwheels carr e new tivelybvte. nindlesis varable as the nin es are adjusted with respect; to the axle; a fram ofsubstantially triangular constructio hav n t axle. and spindles as; its,base. and including s d elements. converging; to a. truncated apex.- remte from the axle, each side element.- inclnding. a pair f telescop callyrranged, extensible and re r tible members .for lengtheningor;shortening the frame. as respects the altitude of the trianularconstruction; mean fixin the, I axle-adjacent members. respectivelytov the;splnd1es;-.means ig idlt GIQSSE-COIII QQfiiHE'JthB; axle-remote.members to. maintain the angle: therehetween; regardless of adjustmentthereof as respects the axle-adjacent-members;- andi means-lockable. to.hold the sp ndles. against extensionor retraction but releasable. to.accommodate such movement as the.

side; element. memlo'ers are. extended or retracted.-

4. Frame. structurefor material-handling ap paratusor the like having anelongatedxelevater; comprising base. means; including interconnectedsections arranged for relative extension and .re-

tract-ion in. a. direction. generally transverse to.

the length. of'sncheleiz ator for Varying the width ot the. base. means;supporting means extending from the base. means generallynormal to saidtransverse direction and'including interconnected sections 'arranged'forrelativei extension and retraction to varyrthe 'length of the supportingmeans; anclmmeansr interconnecting the base means and vthesupportingmeans *for extending. l

and retracting thesections. cfone means intresponse toextension-orretraction of the sectionsoftheothermeansi Y 5. Framestructure for material-handling-ap paratus ortha like having anelongatedelevator,

comprising: a. truck'having a'pair of sections resnectively: includingwheelacarrying means'and interconnected for relative extension-"andire-trac tion in a direction=generallyfitransverse t'othe length ofsuchelevator-for varying the tread of wheels en'lthej. Wheelecarr-ying"means; a supportextending from the: truck in a direction generallynormal thereto and includinga pair of sections i-ntereonneotedzforrelative extension and retraction to. vary the length of the support;and means interconnecting the support and the truck for exgending andretracting the wheel-carrying meansand'thus vary-maths tread of wheelscar rie th reby in; response to varying of the-length QI'fih$L1DpQiIt'-. 1 r

6. In a material-handling apparatus ofwthe yne having an,,eloneatedelevator inclim'hg'upward v from a receiving: end. adjacentto. ground to an elevated; discharge end: supportingstrucure, he or,omprisin a truck disposed below the; l or and-i te medi te the endsthereof nd havin a pair. of w te rcar yne meansad j ustable toward andaway frzom each. other along 1111sa l a 9 h -lensth of the elevator;reach mean extend etween. 11211. "tru k.

" means .iorfiadiustine th le gt type. having an elongated elevatori-njclining wardly from a. receiving; end adjacent to, gm

7 10... the. iv n d. t e-e e a and: nau a adjustable sections forvarying; the leng-thfof, the, reach means; means interconnectingthreach? carrying means simultaneous1vwit'h adjustment of the reach means;derrick means e xtending end (at-the;

wheel-carrying means, 7 we means simultaneouslywith vadju 7. In amaterial-handling.appa tuso to an elevated discharge endssupportinglstruc -j turetherefor comprising a truck disposed belowtheelevator and intermediate th en s theme? and having axle, nartsadapted,tocarrywheels. and arranged for adjustment tosvarv thetr adof-such wheels; reach-means-ot generall angular 3 construction havin.-,tl1 e; that base-and extending; to: a generally tr ap x. adjacentitherreceivin nd- 0 t a E m n i l t l m 3 mar e d i 7 r te. en -Q e ento vary h l asth; .qsieaah 11s; means. interconnecting e of. the reachsections and the axle; parts-into. provide-tor variation 'in wheel treadsimultaneonsly with; variatio length t e r s ntm nt; de tie 0f e r y. rgular epn tm ealh v r k a t bas --end ex nd siee ea truncatedapeadjacentthe-d l va and me ee- 2a a :p t connected for relative extensionand to vary e-len th lithe-d? means interconnecting one of the derricksimultaneously withvarying Wheel treadL g- I 4 8.,Materia1 hand-lingapparatus, co n-pr an l n ed vato ha n e i-Y. n a .d.. r nd. P 9 5? 7 K?ben ath. the. vator'andintermediate the..- e cree -f are h meansextending lengthwise betwee and -hav ing opposite end portionsarticulatelylconnected to the truckand-to the. receiving end portion.or? the elevator; derrickmeans extending .from the truck toward thedelivery end,of the elevator and ha ving one, end pivoted; tothetrnckonsa transverse axis and; its other; end sustaining. the delivery endportion of ,the elevator from. below; and movable tore eand aft alongthe e levato to,

- raise and 7 low-er the-elevator to. effect variations in the anglethereof to the horizontalas t-hederrick means swings about. its axisonthe tru clg. mast means extending upwardly from, the truck and havingalower section pivoted tothe trucl: on a. transverse axis and an nnpersection tele,-. scopically arranged qn the lower.fseetion; ;m eanssustaining the. upper seetion ini a; limited downward position ontthelowe section but providing oru wardmovementc thennper-s ct ntmeans awoa-sunpor ina onnection between; the unhermastfseotionkand the derrick-so.that:

. swinging. ofthe mast is. accompanied-byswing;

' loading point.

telescopic arrangement of the mast sections pro- V viding for upwardmovement of the upper'seclowered, column-load-sustaining I position andproviding a first loading point higher than the elevator element whenthe;elevator element is depressed below a certain angle; derrick meanspivoted on the base element-and sustaining the elevator, and. arrangedfor raising and lowering to elevate and depress the elevator, saidderrick including a'second loading point lower than the aforesaid firstpoint when the elevator element is depressed below said predeterminedangle; means on one of the elements providing a third loading pointlower than the'first loading point, said three points forming generallythe 'apices of a triangle with the first point the highest apex when theelevator element is depressedbelow the aforesaid predetermined angle;and tension,- load-supporting means including a first part connectedbetween the first and second points and a second part connectedbetween-the first and third points, at least one of said parts beingcone tractible to impose column-loading on the mast for raising of thederrick so that the second point moves upwardly and the three pointsapproach a straight line including the first and third points as theelevator element is elev ated to the aforesaid predetermined angle,-said mast section thereafter shifting upwardly as aforesaid to relievethemast of column loading and to apply tensional loading directlythrough the tensionload-supporting means. i

10. The invention defined in claim 9,further characterized in that:selectively adjustable means is provided in the mast forvarying thelowered, column-load-sustaining position ofthe mast and hence varyingtheheight of the first 11. Material-handling apparatus, comprising: abase having a first pair of interconnected sections arranged for varyingthe length of the base and a second pair of interconnected sectionsarranged to vary the width of the base; means interconnecting certain ofthe sections for increasingthe width of the base simultaneously withincrease length thereofjan elevator fulcrumed on;one of the firstsections for elevationand depression; a derrick pivoted to the other ofthe first sections and sustaining the elevator, and includinginterconnected parts arranged to vary the length of the derrick; meansconnecting at least one ofsaid parts with certain ofthe base sections toeffect variations in derrick length in accordance with variations inlength andwidth of the base; and means onthe base for elevating thederrick, including" upright supporting structure, and 'means mountingsaid structure on the base for vertical adjustment independently ofvariations in the base orderrick.

12. In a material-handling device of the type having'a base, aninclinedflelevator, and a pair of mast elements carried by and extendingupwardly from the base, one at each side of the elevator: theimprovement comprising a pair of lugs rigidly secured to the mastelements, one on each -element and projecting horizontally andfacingeach other, each lug being relatively short in a horizontaldirection and having an aperture therein; a transverse bar disposedcrosswise between the mast elements'and having opposite end portionsrespectively receiving the lugs, said end portions being aperturedrespectively I for alignment with the lug apertures; and a pair ofsecuring members, one for each lug, passed through said alignedapertures and throughthe lugapertures; ,7

13; The invention defined in claim 12, in which: the opposite endportions of the bar are recessed and the lugs are smaller than andrespectively loosely received in said recessed end portions so that thebar may have limited movement relative to the mast element. 7

14. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like havingan elongated elevator, comprising: a pair of relatively extensible andretractible frame sections, one of which includes a pair of convergingtubular members rigidly cross-braced to fix the angle of convergence,and the second of which includes a pair of members respectivelytelescopically received by the tubular members and extensible andretractible relative thereto; and means for releasably securing saidmembers "in selected positions of extension or retraction. x

15. In a material-handling device including means providing a base onwhich an elevator is carried for elevation and depression, theimprovement comprising: upright mast structure carried by the base andincluding a pair of upright, spaced apart members disposed with theelevator therebetween,:said members being sufficiently resilient toprovide for spreading thereof from and return to normal spacing; atransverse member of substantially sufficient length to fit between thenormally spaced mast members and below the elevatorin position to limitdepression of the elevator; and means releasably connecting thetransverse member to the mast members for release thereof to provide forfurther depression of the elevator, said releasable means including,elements on the mast members respectively engaging end portions of thetransverse member when the mast-members are normally spaced andrespectively disengageable when the mast members are spread.

16. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like'havingan elongated elevator,-comprising: base means including interconnectedsections arranged for relative extension and retractionin a directiongenerally transverse to the length of suchelevator for varying the widthof the base means; supporting means having a first end proximate to thebase and extending from the base means generally normal to saidtransverse direction'to a second end remote from the base, and includinginterconnected sections arranged for relative extension and retractionto vary the distance between said first and second ends; and meansadjustably mounting the first end of the supporting means on the basemeans and providing for varying the width of said base end.

17. Frame structure for material-handling apparatus or the like havingan elongated ele-' vator, comprising: axlermeans disposed transverselyas respectsthe length of the elevator and including a pair of relativelyextensible and retractible axle partsfor respectively carrying wheels,so that the tread of such wheels, is a djustable according to relativeextension or retrace tion of said parts; 'a supporting frame extending13 generally normal to the axle means and including a pair of elongatedframe elements having a pair of ends adjacent the axle means and a pairof ends remote from the axle means; means adjustably connecting theaxle-adjacent ends of the members to the axle means to vary thetransverse spacing between said axle-adjacent ends; and means at theaxle-remote ends of the members for supporting the elevator.

LEONARD B. NEIGHBOUR. ORV'ILLE P. LANCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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